Looking at the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ 6-3 record, it would appear the team is having a successful year and playing quite well against their opponents. However, the numbers may say otherwise. Just how lucky are the Steelers getting this season?
Pittsburgh Steelers Outgained for Ninth Consecutive Game But Win
On Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, the Steelers were outgained in total yards for their ninth consecutive game, 399-324. Up 23-19, Keanu Neal thwarted the Packers’ chances with an end-zone interception to seal the game.
Last week, in the win over Tennessee, Pittsburgh was once again outgained 340-326. In a narrow 20-16 win, a fourth-quarter rally by the Titans ended in an interception, sealing the deal again. The Steelers were down three at the half but were able to put up a field goal and touchdown and hold on for the win.
In the words of Dan Graziano, Pittsburgh seems to be good at nothing but winning the game.
“It’s a magic trick, there’s no other way to explain it,” he said after the Steelers game over the Titans. “Football is a ground acquisition game. The point is to gain yards, move the ball forward. In literally every game, they are worse at that than their opponent.”
Pittsburgh has not won a game by more than a seven-point margin, and several games have come down to last-minute plays, such as the interceptions in their last two games.
In another narrow win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 6, Pittsburgh was outgained 354-300 and still managed to hold onto the lead. After being down 17-10 in the third quarter, the team seemed to wake up just in time in the fourth to rally ahead and win.
In another late-game rally, the Steelers beat the Ravens 17-10 in Week 5 after being outgained 335-289. Kenny Pickett hit George Pickens on a 41-yard TD pass with 1:17 left in the fourth quarter. The Ravens fumbled on the ensuing possession, and the Steelers were able to put up a field goal before the end of the game.
The team was outgained 362-333 in their 23-18 Week 3 win over the Raiders and a whopping 408-255 in their 26-22 win over the Browns in Week 2.
Last week, Pittsburgh became the first team since 1933, when the NFL began tracking rushing and receiving statistics, to be outgained in each of their first eight games and still have a winning record.
MORE: When Was the Last Time the Pittsburgh Steelers Had a Losing Season?
So how does Pittsburgh keep winning despite being outgained in every game? Part of their historic season is due to its defense, which has been effective in the red zone so far this season.
Additionally, Pickett has had several efficient games and some clutch moments throughout this season. So far this season, Pickett has completed 61.3% of his passes for 1,490 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions.
Pickett’s numbers are not great by any means, but as mentioned, he can perform well in high-pressure fourth-quarter situations. His best stats come from the fourth quarter, where he averages a 72.7% completion rate and a 108.2 passer rating while putting up the most total yards than any other quarter.
A large part of the Steelers’ success this season has come from forcing turnovers, especially in clutch moments.
The win keeps Pittsburgh in close distance of Baltimore for first place in the AFC North. Whether or not the way the team has been playing is sustainable is still a question mark, but it somehow seems to keep working week after week. With matchups against the Browns and Bengals in the coming weeks, the Steelers will be put to the test.
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